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All homeowners want an energy efficient home. As the cold winter months pass by and the warm weather arrives, it is important to do a few things to achieve a home that uses less energy. We want to point out that heating and cooling makes up for over half of domestic energy consumption.
What does this mean for you? It means you can save a lot of cash in the long run, as well as the short run by making improvements around the home. In this article, we will explore ways that homeowners can make a huge difference on their energy bills.
The only way you’ll make your home truly energy efficient is if you know where your energy is being wasted. For example, around 25% of energy is wasted via gaps and holes around door frames and windows. When cold air leaves the home, then warm air makes its way inside. This means that the cooling system has to work much harder. Remember, 25% of the cold air that escapes will get replaced with warmer air. In turn, the air conditioner will have to cool down that air. These gaps and holes can lead to uneven temperatures throughout the home. Therefore, the overall comfort level can decrease. Not only that, but your monthly energy bills will start to increase.
If you want to detect drafts and air leaks in your home, then hire a professional HVAC contractor. The sooner you detect and seal leaks, the sooner you can start to lower cooling costs. Contractors have the experience, tools, and equipment to help them find air leaks. However, if you don’t want to hire a contractor, then there are a few DIY options at your disposal.
An incense stick is all you need to detect air leaks. Simply light it up and bring it around to the high risk areas in your home. These areas include door frames and windows, as well as other outlets. If everything is fine, then the smoke should go upwards and disperse as it reaches the ceiling. However, if the smoke goes inwards then there’s a chance you have an air leak somewhere in that area. To make things easier on yourself, mark the areas that have leaks and after you’re done with your inspection, then you can go back and seal them up.
Look for cobwebs too. Spiders like to be near areas where there is a little bit of air flow. If there are cobwebs present, then you probably have an air leak nearby. Don’t forget to mark the areas where there are suspected leaks and then go back to seal them.
There’s a number of ways to seal leaks. You can use weather stripping, spray foam, or caulking. Feel free to use the cheapest material you can find or the one that is easily available to you. If you are not comfortable or confident in your ability to seal leaks, then don’t hesitant to hire a professional. A contractor can inspect your entire home and then seal areas where there is a leak present. You can save money by sealing leaks, so it is worth hiring a professional HVAC contractor. Plus, they will get the job done right the first time around and they will get things done fast.
After you remove drafts in your home, you should still call a heating and cooling contractor. They can inspect your air conditioning system and perform an AC tune-up. This, too, will improve the energy efficiency in your home and lower cooling costs. Give Ace-Robbins a call today and let our NATE certified HVAC contractors perform the work your AC system needs. Call now to speak with one of our home comfort specialists.
We service Kingston PA 18704, Luzerne PA 18709, Plymouth PA 18651, Wilkes-Barre PA 18701, Wyoming PA 18644 Chinchilla PA 18410, Clarks Summit PA 18411, Dickson City PA 18519, Elmhurst PA 18416, Moosic PA 18507, Old Forge PA 18518, Olyphant PA 18447, Peckville PA 18452, Scranton PA 18501, Taylor PA 18517 and all surrounding areas.
Winter is literally right around the corner, which means it is imperative to have a well functioning heating system. The HVAC system of any commercial property or private residence must be appropriately installed and maintained. This ensures that no person is placed at serious physical risk during this chilly season. Numerous avenues exist through which homeowners can make sure their heating systems are in proper shape and ready to efficiently meet the cold temperatures of winter:
In order to keep a heating system in proper shape during cold months, it must be serviced on a regular basis. As winter gets closer, it helps to have such systems serviced so they can function at an optimum level at all times. This will ensure the home is comfortable on a continuous basis. Additionally, an inspection of the oil tank is also a good idea. This is because oil tanks are subject to wear and tear as time goes on, and may eventually begins a malfunction, thus affecting the system’s heater. Some things that may cause oil tank to wear out include the following:
Scheduling maintenance on a furnace is also very important. This should be completed prior to the arrival of winter. It is also essential that heating system maintenance be completed by professionals. It is never wise for homeowner to attempt to do maintenance or repairs without consulting an expert. To do so may cause serious problems or in danger those who live in the home.
When a heating system’s oil tank deteriorates, expensive and dangerous oil leaks can occur. Such an occurrence can have dangerous consequences like property damage or even the harm or death of a resident of the home. For this reason, regular maintenance of oil tanks is necessary. There are several signs of a leaking tank that one should be aware of, including the following:
Anyone who notices or suspects that there is a leak in his or her heater should contact a professional immediately. Such individuals can diagnose and repair the problem and return the heater to optimal function.
Many heaters in commercial and residential HVAC systems run on oil. For this reason, ensuring that the unit does not run out of this fuel is important. The last thing any homeowner or commercial property owner wants to face is a cold winter day without sufficient oil in the unit’s tank. Monitoring heating oil levels on a regular basis is the best way to ensure that enough oil is available for the system. In addition, keeping the tank full prevents sediment and water build up, both of which can cause rusting and corrosion on the inside of the tank. Such corrosion can lead to a host of negative problems within the system.
An often overlooked but important aspect of keeping a heater running well is improving the home’s energy efficiency. Heaters do not have to work as hard during cold months if a home is appropriately insulated. A great way to make sure this is the case is to replace old doors and windows with newer, more energy-efficient models, caulking drafty windows, installing a programmable thermostat and placing weather stripping around areas of the home that leak air. These tasks will reduce energy consumption and cost as time goes on. Maintaining your heating system alone can greatly improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Changing and cleaning air filters on a regular basis also helps heating systems to function more efficiently year-round. Air filters should be checked on a monthly basis and removed and replaced whenever they are dirty.
Giving a heater a bit of attention prior to cold-weather setting in will certainly pay off during winter when a home can be kept warm and cozy through the working of an efficient heating system. Additionally, with professional maintenance conducted on an annual basis, the heater will offer good longevity to its owner and premature replacements will not be necessary.
We service Bear Creek PA 18602, Dallas PA 18612, Duryea PA 18642, Kingston PA 18704, Lehman PA 18627, Luzerne PA 18709, Nanticoke PA 18634, Pittston PA 18640, Plymouth PA 18651, Shavertown PA 18708, Wilkes Barre PA 18701, Wyoming PA 18644, and all surrounding areas.
Contact us today or give us a call at (570) 836-3232 if you have any questions.
No one enjoys paying excessively large energy bills. For this reason, homeowners are always on the search to find ways or new strategies to reduce their energy consumption. Using less energy means reduced energy costs. Naturally, no one wants to compromise their comfort levels while doing so. There are so many ways that we can reduce our energy use and feel comfortable at the same time. Some tasks are quite simple. Others are more involved. However, they all make a significant impact on our energy use. In this article, we will discuss our top seven techniques that will make your energy bill more manageable this winter.
Install additional insulation. Be sure to place it in areas such as the attic and walls. This even goes for modern homes which are designed to be energy efficient. Some of the insulation materials commonly used are
The Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA) recommends that insulation materials with high R-values are preferred. Additionally, the R-value should be based on the standards established by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM). Your space-heating costs are lowered by between 10-50% by the addition of insulation to your home.
Appropriate weather stripping needs to be applied to the doors, windows and other parts of your home. Be sure to address any areas where it is possible for cold air to leak indoors during the winter season. A professional should be contracted to identify areas where air leaks could occur. A comprehensive home energy audit usually is quite precise because they use tools such as infrared cameras and blower doors. The materials that can be used to seal any problem areas once identified are:
This needs to be done prior to the commencement of the winter season. Always apply weather-stripping to surfaces that are dry.
The installation of a programmable thermostat can contribute to reducing home heating costs during the winter. This is possible because this you can set it up based on your schedule. You can schedule your thermostat to reduce the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees when you leave your home. It will go back to a higher indoor temperature right before you return home. As a result, your space heating costs are lowered by as much as 10% in the winter. Your home will also feel much more comfortable.
Any fluorescent lights still being used in your home should be replaced with LED lights. LED lights are more energy efficient. Data released from the US Department of Energy indicate that LED lights are more energy efficient than traditional lights such as incandescent bulbs, by as much as 75%. LED lights are also more durable than both fluorescent and incandescent lights. Therefore, opt for LED lights that are connected to the Internet of things (loT). This means that they are controlled via a tablet or smart phone.
Review the possibility of replacing the doors and windows in your home with energy efficient alternatives. One example is doors and windows that carry the ENERGY STAR label. This label indicates that they are specifically designed to prevent heat loss. Interestingly enough, the EPA published figures showing that by installing energy-efficient doors and windows, the energy consumption in households nationally could be lowered by 12% annually.
You should contract the services of a professional HVAC company to complete a thorough tune-up of your furnace or home heating system. This would include cleaning, inspecting, or replacement of:
A professional HVAC expert determines if there are any abnormalities being emitted from various parts of your home heating system. A heating unit that is not operating efficiently will consume more energy. Consequently, this results in higher power bills during the winter season.
If your water heater is at least ten years old, then you need to replace it with a modern water heater. Newer water heaters are far more energy-efficient. An example of this kind of water heater is one which only heats on-demand. Unfortunately, many older models heat all of the water contained in the tank.
When you follow even just a few of the above steps, you will see a major difference on your energy bills. These methods work and homeowners who follow these tips can enjoy the associated savings. Tuning up your heating system is probably one of the most important aspects of reducing your energy use. Be sure to find an HVAC company that has what it takes to get your heating system at peak efficiency.
Contact Ace-Robbins for all of your home heating needs. It is not too late to schedule your annual heater tune-up. We offer repair services such as furnace repair services as well as boiler repair services on HVAC systems of all makes and models. We also deliver propane and offer heating oil delivery. Be sure to contact us for all of your home heating needs. We have been in business since 1961 and since then, we have been providing quality services at affordable prices.